Ball cleaner



Aug. 23,1927.

' J. E. LAWLER BALL CLEANER Filed Aug. 8, 1925 Inven for: Jczmes Edam/mil; cal/Zea".

Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

JAMES EDWARD LAWLERQOF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BALL CLEANER.

Application filed August 8, 1925. Serial No.-49,068.

This invention relates to a ball cleaner and it has for its object to provide a cleaner primarily intended for golf balls whereby one or a plurality of balls may be readily and efliciently cleaned or painted.

A cleaner according to this invention, broadly defined, comprises a body having a cleaning surface and a second similar body reciprocal by hand longitudinally of said first body the balls being disposed between the two cleaning surfaces so that when the second body is reciprocated the said balls will be subjected to the cleaning effect of the bristles.

In order that the invention may be the better understood drawings are appended in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a cleaner according to this invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view to a some what larger scale.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the cleaner, there shown, comprises a wooden body embodying a bottom or base a having longitudinally disposed side walls Z), 0, the inner surfaces of said side walls Z), 0, being curved as shown.

Secured by screws or other convenient means to the inner curved surfaces of the side walls 6, c, are bristles the stocks cl, 6, of which are curved to correspond to the curvature of said surfaces.

The surface presented by the bristles is also curved, the radius of the curvature of the bristles of each brush being preferably longer tha the radius of the ball itself so that, as shown in Fig. 2, the ball, when placed upon the cleaning surface, is engaged only for a certain portion of its circumference the full engagement of the ball by the bristles only taking place when said ball is pressed down thereon by the co-operating upper cleaning surface to be presently described.

By this means when the pressure of the upper member during reciprocatory movement of the upper member on the lower member is somewhat relieved, the ball be-:

tween the members is given a slight sidewise rotary motion, a similar rotary motion taking place in the case of golf, or similar balls having a roughened or marked surface, as the balls move along the cleaning surface, this rotary motion being independrent of and additional to the rolling motion of the balls longitudinally of the cleaner during said reciprocatory movement.

9, h, indicate stops secured one at each end of the body just described and which stops prevent the balls from being rolled out of the cleaner.

The upper surfaces of the walls 6, a, are provided at 6 0 with longitudinal projections which serve as guides for a second body 1; having 'a cleaning surface such as that previously described in connection with the first body.

The sides of the body i at i F, are cut away as shown and when the parts are in the cleaning position the longitudinal projections 6 c engage the cut away portions of body 2' so that any material lateral displacement of said body 2' is prevented.

Preferably the undersurface of the base of the device is provided with transversely disposed strips of rubber having a corrugated or similar outer surface, said rubber serving to hold the device as a whole against longitudinal or other movement when in use without the necessity of securing it to the surface upon which it is resting.

Obviously in place of bristles any other suitable cleaning means may be provided.

Claims: a

1. A ball cleanercomprising an elongated body, acleaning element upon said body, a second elongated-body, a cleaning element upon said second body, said second body being movable backwards and forwards longitudinally of the first mentioned body whereby balls placed between the respective cleaning elements are subjected to a cleaning action, and means at each end of the first body for preventing movement of the balls beyond the limits of the first body.

2-. A ball cleaner comprising an elongated body having a curved surface upon one face thereof, bristles secured to said curved sur-v face, a second elongated body also having a curved surface upon one face thereof, and a cleaning material upon the curved surface of the second body, said second body being movable backwards and forwards longitudinally of the first body whereby the balls placed between the respective cleaning surfaces are subjected to a cleaning action.

3. A ball cleaner comprising an elongated body having a curved surface upon one face thereof, a cleaning material upon said curved surface, a second elongated body also having a curved surface upon one face thereof, a

movement of the balls beyond the limits of the first body are prevented.

l. A ball cleaner comprising an elongated body having a curved surface upon one face thereof, a cleaning material upon said curved surface, a second elongated body also havin a curved surface on one face thereo'l" a cleaning material. on the curved surface of the second body, said second body being movable backwards and forwards longitudinally of the first body whereby balls placed between the respective cleaning surfaces are subjected to a cleaning action, and means for preventing lateral displacement of the second body during its reciprocal movement over the first body.

5. A ball cleaner comprising an elongated body having a curved surface upon one face thereof, bristles secured to said curved surface, a second elongated body also having a curved surface upon one face thereof, a cleaning material upon the curved surface of the second body, said second body being movable backwards and forwards longitudinally of said first body whereby balls placed between the respective cleaning surfaces are subjected to a cleaning action, means for preventing lateral displacement of the second body during its reciprocal movement over the first body, and stops at each end of said first body whereby movement of the balls beyond the limits of thefirst body are prevented; 7

6. A ball cleaner comprising an elongated b0dy,=a curved surface upon one face thereof, bristles secured to said curved surface, a second elongated body also having a curved surface upon one face thereof, a cleaning materialupon the curved surface of the second body, said second body being movable backwards andforwards longitudinally of said first body whereby balls placed between the respective cleaning surfaces are subjected to a cleaning action, longitudinal ribs upon the side walls of the first body, and recesses upon the sides of the second body for receiving said ribs whereby lateral displacement of the second body during its reciprocal movement over the'first body is prevented.

. 7. A ball cleanercomprising an elongated body, a curved surface upon one face of l body, bristles secured to said curved surface,

a second elongated body, a curved surface on ill) one face of the second body, a cleaning ma terial upon the curved surface of the second body, said second body being movable baclrwards and forwards longitudinally of the first body whereby balls placed between the respective cleaning surfaces are subjected to a cleaning action, longitudinal ribs upon the side walls of the first body, recesses upon the side walls of the second body for receiving said ribs whereby lateral displacen'ient of the second body during its reciprocal movement over the first body is prevented and stops at each end of said first body whereby the movement of the balls beyond the limits of the first body are prevented.

8. A ball cleaner comprising an elongated body having an inwardly curved surface on one face thereof, bristles secured to said surface and providing an inwardly curved cleaning surface, a second elongated body "JAMES EDWARD LAWLER. 1,. 5.

second bodies forpre- 

